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Turkey cannot possibly hope to join the European Union as long as it
continues to occupy part of Cyprus, an EU member itself, Karolos
Papoulias, President of the Hellenic Republic has stressed, urging EU
partners not to tolerate such behaviour.

He also stressed that Greece and Cyprus offer a helping hand to Turkey
to progress on its way towards Europe but not on Ankaras terms, on the
terms laid down by the international community and the EU.

Turkeys wish to join the Union and our membership provides an important
juncture which we have to exploit to resolve the question of Cyprus on
the basis of UN and EU principles, respecting the human rights of all
Cypriots, he said in his address at a commemorative service to mark 30
years since the death of Cyprus first president, the late Archbishop
Makarios III, at the University of Cyprus, in Nicosia.

He said this was a one-way street and both Cyprus and Greece will go
down this road.

He paid tribute to the late Archbishop, saying he served his country
faithfully, with tenacity and left his own legacy to his people: to
struggle until the Turkish occupation troops withdraw from Cyprus.

The just cause of the people of Cyprus has not been vindicated yet.
Cyprus has taken great strides on the path the late President laid
down, which have a painful gap, that of the continuing occupation of
the islands northern part by Turkey, Papoulias added.

In his address, Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos said that a lot is
owed to Makarios, and paid tribute to his personality whose memory
lingers on among the people.

If we all owe something to Makarios, if we all owe a lot to Cyprus,
then this is to continue fighting for our country, to rally together
and draw strength to continue until we are vindicated. If the flag
bearer died 30 years ago, the flag he carried for a better future in
Cyprus shall not be lowered nor will it be folded away, President
Papadopoulos stressed.

Addressing Papoulias, Papadopoulos said that his presence during the
commemoration events was proof of his continuous support and solidarity
to the people of Cyprus and an honour to all that Makarios
represented.

Greek Minister of Interior, Public Administration and Decentralisation
Prokopis Pavlopoulos, the key note speaker at Sundays memorial event,
talked about the immense contribution Makarios has made to his country,
saying that it sends a strong message to the EU and the international
community.

The international community cannot compromise on its principles. It is
very hypocritical on one hand to declare the need for compliance with
law and order and on the other to tolerate selectively the violation of
the fundamental rules of international legality, he said.

The EU, he continued, has to make it absolutely clear to all those who
wish to join its ranks that the road to accession passes through the
full respect and unconditional recognition of each EU member state.

Referring to Makarios, he said he laid down the law, drafted the course
of action for Cyprus, which is none other than independence and
territorial integrity, without preconditions, compromise and discount.

The people of Cyprus at times of crisis are united, Makarios successors
to the presidency continued on the political path he drafted and Cyprus
and Greece are on the same course, acting in concert. This vindicates
Makarios` heritage, he concluded.